Bond reduced for Shelby Township woman accused in toddler's death

A 21-year-old Shelby Township woman accused of killing her son by leaving him in a hot van could be freed from jail in the next day or two after her bond was reduced.

Audrionna Rhoades bond was lowered by Judge Jennifer Faunce from $500,000 cash or surety to $50,000/10 percent, meaning Rhoades would have to put up $5,000 to be released from the Macomb County Jail while her case is pending in court. Family members planned to post the bond Wednesday.

Her grandmother, Mary Catenacci, said after a hearing in Macomb Count Circuit Court that a free Rhoades will allow her to grieve for her 2-year-old son, James Nelson, who died Sept. 3 after being strapped in a vehicle for nine hours.

“I’m thrilled to death,” Catenacci said. “I’m so happy.”

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“It means she’s going to go home and be with her family, which is a good thing,” added Rhoades’ new attorney, Leon Weiss. “When you’re in jail it kind of suspends y our ability to grieve. You’re just trying to survive day to day. … It was a compassionate ruling.”

Rhoades is charged with second-degree murder and leaving a child in a vehicle resulting in death for the incident outside her residence at a mobile home park.

Rhoades and her adult roommate deny placing the boy in the vehicle about 9 a.m. before Rhoades left for work. James was found by the roommate about 6 p.m.

Police say Rhoades also made inconsistent statements.

Second-degree murder is punishable by up to life in prison; the second charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Rhoades’ family retained Weiss, replacing court-appointed attorney Randy Rodnick, who had discussed reaching a plea deal with the possibility of conviction to a lesser charge, manslaughter, which equates to gross negligence and carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

In making her ruling, Judge Faunce commented: “I do think the facts are looking more for negligence rather than intentional” regarding the offender’s intent.

Weiss said he would not commit to a defense strategy at this point in the proceedings; he took over the case less than two weeks ago and still has to review some material.

“It’s too early to make those decisions,” he said of a potential plea deal. “If at some point in the future it’s resolved by a plea, so be it. But it’s way too early to say if that’s going to happen.”

As part of bond conditions, Rhoades would have to wear a tether and be restricted to work, school and legal and medical appointments.